Rossing machine



I J. D. TAYLOR ETAL 2,230,336

ROSSING MACHINE Filed July 7. 1957 I? Q a 5 Sheets-Sheetl b- J. -D.,TAYLOR ETAL 2,236,336

' ROSSING MACHINE Filed July '7, 193-1 5 sheds-sh et 2 1941 J. D. TAYLOR ETAL 0,3

I gossmq MACHINE Filed July '7, 1957' 5 Sheet-Sheet 4 Jan La 3, Tag (or: wwm e :79: 70762);

1941. J. D. TAYLOR ETAL 2,230,335

ROSSING MACHINE Filed July '7, 1937 5 Sheds-Sheet 5 LL L JarggeJ fl Y'ayior;

4 Wallace E Jones;

Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROSSING MACHINE olina Application July 7, 1937, Serial No. 152,461

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to pole rossing machines and has for one of its objects the provision of a compact motorized machine which is semi-portable and capable of being readily set up in difflcult locations. This machine employs a pair of motor operated pole rotating and feeding wheels having rubber tires to provide efficient traction surfaces regardless of the angle at which the wheels are set with respect to the pole passing through the machine. In the present arrangement the polefeeding wheels and the motor and gearing for operating the wheels are all carried as a unit upona single support and this support is pivotallymounted on the machine to permit the wheels to be set at various angles depending upon the diameter of the poles to be fed through the machine. Moreover, the machine includes as another feature a motorized, easily operable, transmission mechanism for moving the support about its pivot.

A further advantage comprises a cutter head assembly and a cutter operating motor mounted in perfect balance, and operating means for bringing the cutter head into operative position including springs, which permits the cutter head to initially contact the pole to be rossed, without any pressure being applied thereto and then thereafter allows a gradually increasing spring pressure to be applied to the cutter head to hold the latter in operative cutting position with respect to the pole.

Another object is the provision of an adjustable mechanism carried by the cutter head for determining the depth of out, said mechanism including pole engaging shoes which may be easily and quickly removed when worn and replaced with new shoes.

An additional feature includes the provision of a plurality of pole supporting buggies for feeding poles to and from the rossing machine, with one of the buggies being provided with a pole supporting arm movably mounted thereon and capable of being automatically released so as to swing downwardly out of engagement with a pole when the latter has been moved into position in the machine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will now be more fully described,

reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the pole rossing machine.

Figure 2 is an elevation showing the end of the machine into which the poles are fed.

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the end of the machine from which the poles'are dis- Figure 8 is an enlarged view showing the shoe adjusting means.

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detail of the springs and telescoping member secured to the cutter support.

Figure 11 is a. section taken on line ll-ll of Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a front elevation of the machine showing a pole in the process of being rossed and the buggies for supporting the ends of the pole, and

Figure 13 isan end elevation of one of the buggies.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and 12, the numeral I0 designates a rossing machine through which logs or poles are adapted to be fed for the purpose of removing bark. Each pole is fed to the machine upon a pair of buggies or trucks II and I2 and as the rossing operation progresses, the debarked end of the pole is gradually moved over and iinally supported upon a second pair of buggies l3 and I4. The function and use of each of these buggies will be described in more detail further on in the specification.

The rossing machine comprises a base or frame l5 upon which are mounted pole rotating and feeding means and a plurality of cutters for giving first a roughing cut and then a finishing cut to the pole as it passes through the machine. The pole rotating and feeding means comprises a pair of wheels 16 and i1 respectively which may be formed of cast iron or any other suitable material and each wheel is provided with a solid rubber tire 18 for providingmaximum traction surface during the pole rotating and feeding operation. The wheels [6 and H are journaled in the side walls I901 a casing 21] and are positioned in alignment with each other with their axes in parallel and non-movable relation with respect to each other.

The casing 20 is provided with end walls 2|, which with the side walls partially house the wheels l6 and l I. The base 22 of the casing is through the machine at a greater speed than provided with a centrally disposed opening in which is fitted a bearing 23 and this bearing cooperates with a king pin 24 mounted on the frame IE to permit limited rotation of the casing and wheels on the frame. The frame is also provided with spaced rails 25 which support opposite ends of the casing 20 and upon which the casing rides when it is moved about its pivot. One side of the casing 20 is extended to provide a transmission support 26. The transmission comprises an electric motor 21 and reduction gearing 28 through which power is transmitted to the wheel It by way of shaft 29. The motor 21 and gearing 28 may be of any desired construction and is merely shown diagrammatically in the drawings. wheel I! by a belt or sprocket 30.

With this arrangement, power from the motor 21 will rotate the wheels l6 and I1 and by reason of the belt 30 both wheels will rotate in the same direction and at the same speed. Moreover, it will be observed that the king pin 24 is positioned directly in alignment with the wheels l6 and I1 and at a point midway between the,

axes of the wheels. This arrangement is necessary in order to properly adjust the wheels to take care of poles or logs of different diameters. That is, in order to impart a feeding action, as

well as a rotating motion to the poles, it is necessary that the wheels be moved about the pivot point 24 out of perpendicular alignment with the poles. With poles of substantially large diameters the wheels need only be adjusted slightly out of their perpendicular position, since a very slow feeding action is required to obtain the desired out. It will be apparent that poles of relatively small diameter must necessarily be fed To permit the adjustment of the wheels to be made with relative ease and without considerable loss of time, such as would be necessary with a manual operation, the present machine is provided with a motorized means for the angular setting or adjustment of the wheels l6 and I1.

This means comprises a threaded shaft. 3| (see Figures 1 and 11), extending substantially horizontally of and slightly above the base of the frame I0. One end of this shaft passes through a threaded opening in a block 32 which is pivotally' mounted in brackets 33 secured to a wall of the transmission support 25. These brackets are positioned on opposite sides of an opening 34 through which the nut 32 partially projects. The

inner end of the shaft 3| passes through the opening 34 and terminates within the support 25. The outer end of the shaft 3| is joiunaled in a bracket 35 and has secured to its extreme outer end a gear wheel 36 forming one element of a reduction gearing 31. This gearing connects the shaft 3| with the shaft of an electric motor 38, said motor being suitably supported upon a platform 38 carried at the upper end of the bracket 35.

When it is desired to adjust the angular setting of the wheels l6 and H to accommodate different sizes of poles, the motor 38 is started and this imparts power through the reduction Power is transmitted to the other gearing 31 to shaft 3| which is slowly rotated. By reason of the threaded engagement between the inner end of the shaft and the nut 32, the latter rides on the shaft and thus moves the support 26 and casing 20 about the pivot of the king pin 24. This in turn adjusts the wheels to the desired angular position to accommodate the pole which is to be fed through the machine. It will be observed that the movement of the supp rt 26 and nut 32 necessarily changes the axis of the shaft 3| and for this reason the shaft cannot be rigidly mounted on the frame, but must be capable of a slight lateral movement. This is taken care of by securing a socket 40 to the frame l and providing the bracket 35 with a stub axle 4| fitting into the socket, thereby permit- I ting rotation of the bracket, gearing, and the shaft 3|.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, it will be observed that as the pole is fed and rotated through the machine by the wheels l6 and II, the bark is removed therefrom first by a cutter 42 which ives a preliminary or roughing cut and then by a cutter 43 which gives a finishing cut. Each cutter is mounted in a cutter head 44 carried at one end of a cutter head support 45 which is pivotally mounted on a horizontal shaft 46 secured at the rear of the frame IS. The support 45 comprises a substantially tubular member 41 to one end of which the cutter head is swivelly mounted, while the other end of the tubular member is rigidly connected to a motor housing 48. A motor 49 for operating the cutter is slidably supported upon a plate 50 fixed to the housing 48. The plate 50 is provided with sets of front and rear aligned slots 50'. Suitable front and rear bolts 50" are connected to opposite sides of the motor base and extend through the slots 50'. A cross bar 52 connects the front bolts 50" and is provided with a threaded opening to receive a threadedrod 5|. This rod is journalled against longitudinal movement in the front of the casing 48 and is connected to an operating handle 53. By operating the handle 53, the rod 5| is rotated and the cross bar. 52 is moved, and in turn slides the motor 49 on the plate 50. With this arrangement the motor may be adjusted with respect to the tubular member 41 and the cutter head 44 so that the whole cutting unit may be perfectly balanced about the pivot 46. As a further means for balancing the'cutter support, there is provided a shot bin or ballast box 54 carried by the housing 43 directly below the plate 50 and adapted to contain any suitable ballast 55.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the cutter head 44 comprises a casing for housing a rotatable cutter 56 which is adapted to be positioned longitudinally of the pole or log during the cutting operation. This casing is provided with side plates 51 having aligned openings for receiving the shouldered portions 53 of bearing housings 59, each housing being designed to accommodate a bearing 80. Thecutter 55 is provided at one end with a stub shaft 6| journaled in one.

complished by providing a stub shaft rigidly secured to the rear wall of the cutter head and projecting into. the tubular member 41. The outer end of the shaft 85 is journaled in a roller bearing 58 housed within the tubular member, while the inner end of -the shaft is provided with a grooved collar 81 retained in position within the tubular element by one or more set screws 58. With this arrangement each cutter head and adjusting elements 89, each of which is secured to a plate 10 which is in turn secured to and constitutes a part of the bearing housing 58. Any suitable means, such as the threaded bolts 1| may be utilized to secure these members in operative position. Each adjusting element comprises a pair of spaced bars 12 located on opposite sides of the axis of the cutter 56 and connected at their upper ends by a cross bar 13. Each bar 12 is undercut on its inner surface to provide a. guide slot 14 and a shoe supporting plate 15 is slidably mounted within the guides and is provided on each side with longitudinally extending flanges 18 movable in the recessed portions 14. To the lower end of the plate 15 is secured a pole engaging shoe 11 and this is detachably connected to the plate by bolts 18 to permit replacement of the shoe after being worn out.

The upper edge of the plate 15 extends diagonally from side to side and is provided with a transversely extending groove 19 cooperating with a rib or tongue 80 on a block 8| to form an interlocking or interfitting connection between the block and plate. The block 8| is provided with an off-set boss 82 having a threaded opening through which projects the threaded shank of a spindle 83. This spindle is suitably journaled in the upper end of the adjusting element 89 and is provided with a handle 84 projecting outwardly from one side of the cutter head. When it is desired to adjust each set of shoes 11 with respect to its cutter head and cutter to determine the depth of cut, it is merely necessary to actuate the handle 84, thereby rotating the spindle 83. This operation moves the block 8| on the spindle transversely of the adjusting element and by reason of the interfitting engagement between the block and plate, the plate 15 will be moved longitudinally of the cutter and thereby raise or lower the shoe 11 with respect to the cutter and cutter head.

In order that eachshoe may be locked in adjusted position, the spindle 83 adjacent the handle 84 is squared as at 85. Mounted on the cutter head at this point is a spring pressed plunger 86 having a head 81 normally urged into contact with one of the squared surfaces 85 of the spindle to lock the latter against rotation. It will be apparent that with the spindle l- ..-ked in this position there can be no transverse movement of the block 8| and thus each shoe is positively retained in each of its adjusted positions.

It will be observed that on each cutter head the right hand set of plates 10 and 15 (see Figures 6, 7 and 8), are substantially solid in construction due to the fact that the stub shaft 8| terminates interiorly of the plates. With respect to the plates on the left hand side of the cutter head, as viewed in these figures, the plate 10 is provided with an opening surrounding the stub axle 82,

while the shoe supporting plate 15 is provided with a cut out portion forming spaced legs 88 which straddle the stub shaft 82 and thus permit the plate 15 to move longitudinally in the adjusting element 59.

Referring now to Figures l to 4, It will be observed that the cutter heads 42 and 43 are mounted side by side and by reason of the shaft 48 about which the supports 45 pivot, the cutter heads may be raised and lowered into and out of operative engagement with the poles as they pass through the rossing machine. Because of the balanced arrangement of the supports 45, each head may be moved into engagement with the pole witho ut pressure being applied through the cutter head to the pole. Means are provided to move each head into this initial position of contact with the pole and then to subsequently apply a gradual spring pressure to the head and cutter to hold the latter against the pole during the cutting operation. This means comprises a pair of hand levers 89, 90 respectively, the former for actuating the cutter head 42 and the latter the cutter head 43. The handles are suitably mounted in brackets 9| carried by the frame I5 and each bracket is provided with a quadrant 92 having teeth 93 which cooperate with a pawl 94 to maintain its lever in any one of a number of different positions. The lever 89 is pivotally connected to a cross link 95 which in turn is pivotally connected to a depending arm 98 rigidly mounted upon a cross shaft 91 extending across and journaled in suitable bearings in the frame. A second arm 98 also rigidly connected to the shaft 91, is associated with the tubular element "of the cutter head 42 by a combination spring and telescoping connection 99. Referring to Figure 10 it will be observed that one of the telescoping elements I is pivotally connected to the outer free end of ,the arm 98, while the other element IN is pivotally connected to a bracket I02 secured to the underside of the tubular member 41. In this view the element I00 is telescoped within the element IM and the elements are normally retained in telescoped relation by means of the coil springs I03. These springs are mounted upon upper and lower rods I04 and I respectively, the upper one being carried by the bracket I02, while the lower one is mounted in the arm 98. In this view a pair of springs are positioned on opposite sides of the telescoping members I00 and WI and extend substantially parallel there- The combination of the springs I03 and the telescoping elements I00 and IN provide a positive operating connection between the cutter support 45 and the arm 98. In the movement of the cutter head 42 to and from its operative position, the springs will maintain the elements I00 and. MI in telescoped position, so that they constitute a solid pivoted link, cooperating to positively move the cutter into and out of engagement with a pole. At the same time, just as soon as the cutter has been moved into contact with a. pole, the telescoping members will lose their function asa positive operating connection and permit expansion of the springs to apply a gradually increasing tension upon the pole through the cutter head.

With this arrangement, and assuming that the cutter 'head 42 is to be moved into operative position, the handle 89 is first moved forwardly. This will move the link 95 rearwardly, and the. arm 95 downwardly, rotating the shaft 91. The arm 98 operation.

will move the balanced cuttersupport 45 about its pivot and bring the cutter head 42 and the cutter 56 into contact with the pole I46. Be-

cause of the balanced arrangement, no pressure will be applied to the pole upon initial contact therewith of the cutter head and cutter. However, upon further actuation of the handle 83 the springs will be expanded and will apply a gradually increasing tension upon the pole through the cutter head. The handle will be actuated sufliciently to maintain a continued spring tension on the cutter during the cutting It is to be understood that before the handle 89 is actuated, the shoes II will have been adjusted to determine the depth of cut desired. The downward movement of the arm 36 is such that the telescoping elements will not become disengaged. That is, the spring pressure required to efficiently hold the cutter head and cutter in contact with the pole will never be such as to require a movement sufllcient to uncouple the elements I and III.

With respect to the cutter 43, the same, spring connection 99 is utilized as above described and the lower end of this element is connected to an arm I" which is rigidly secured to a sleeve IIII mounted on the shaft 91 and capable of rotating relative thereto. A second arm I33 corresponding to the arm 96 is rigidly secured to the sleeve I08 and is connected to the handle 90 by a cross link IIII corresponding to the link 55. With this structure the finishing cutter head 43 may be moved into and out of operative position in a manner similar to that described with respect to the cutter head ,42.

Referring to Figure 12, and assuming that it is desired to pass a log or pole through the machine III to remove the bark therefrom. the pole I06 is initially supported upon the trucks or buggies II and I2 which are movable over the track III. The buggy II is provided withan upright frame II2 within which are mounted a pair of pole supporting wheels 3. The truck I2 is provided with an upright bracket II4 rigidly mounted thereon and a pole supporting arm 5 pivotally mounted on the frame to swing from the dotted line to the full line position. The arm II 5 is normally maintained in the dotted line position by means of a pair of latches II6. These latches are rigidly mounted upon opposite ends of a cross shaft I II pivotally mounted in the bracket II4 with the latches positioned on the outside of the bracket and engaging the angle iron I I8 extending across the pole supporting arm II5. A downwardly extending rod II! has its upper end rigidly connected to the cross shaft III, while its lower end is pivotally conneeted to the rear end of a longitudinally extending plunger I20. The free front end of this plunger projects forwardly in advance of the front of the buggy and is normally retained in this position by a spring I2I having one end thereof connected to the frame of the buggy and its other end secured adjacent the pivot point between the plunger and the rod IIS. The spring normally urges the plunger to its forward position with the latches H6 in operative engagement with the angle iron II8.

It will be observed that when the arm II5is in its upright latched position the pole supporting cross bar I22 is at a higher level than the top of the wheels H3. The bar I22 is also higher than the pole receiving portions of the wheels I6 and I! in order that the pole as it is moved forwardly will initially be supported above the feed wheels. That is, the pole will be placed upon the buggies II and I2 with 'suiilcient overhang to overlie the wheels I6 and I] as the truck I2 moves into'close proximity to the frame I0. With the pole in this position. the buggy I2 will move forwardly until the free end of the plunger I2II contacts the frame. This will move the rod I I9 rearwardly against the tension of the spring I2I and release the latches II6 from the cross bar II8.-The arm IIS will then drop forwardly and downwardly to the full line position away from the .pole and permit -the pole to come into contact with 'the feed wheels I6 and I1. As the pole is fed through the machine the front end will eventually move over and come into contact with the wheels I23 of the truck I4. These wheels, as shown in Figure 12, are of greater height than the pole supporting block I24 of the buggy I3 so that the pole will not come into contact with the block I24 until it passes entirely out of engagement with the wheels I6 and I1. At this time the log will be completely debarked. It will be apparent that after the front of the pole comes into engagement with the wheels I23, the' buggy I4 will gradually move forwardly with the log so that by the time the end of the pole is engaged by the block I24, the buggy I4 will be a substantial distance from the buggy I3. This action takes place in reverse order as the pole is being fed to the machine. That is, the buggies I2 and II support the front and rear end of the log and initially are spaced apart sub-' stantially the length of the log or pole, with the buggy II gradually moving toward the buggy I2 as the pole is being fed through the machine.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral I25 designates a belt tightener having a stub I26 clamped in a collar, I21, and passing into the casing 20 where it terminates in an eccentric arm I28. A belt engaging pulley I29 is mounted on this arm and is adapted to take up any slack in the belt 30 when necessary; This is accomplished by loosening the screw I33, which permits rotation of the stub and arm I28. The collar I 21 is suitably carried by a plate I3I mounted on the support 26. Means are also provided to permit adjustment of the wheel I! with respect to the wheel I6. This is accomplished by mounting the hub I32 of thewheel in plates I33, each of which is adjustably mounted on the exterior of one of the casing walls 20 by means of bolts I34 engaging in slots I35.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawings and described in the specification,

about its pivot comprising a motor carried by said frame, a shaft extending between the motor and support and rotated by said motor, anda blcck pivotally mounted on said support and having a threaded opening through which one end of the shaft projects.

2. In a pole rossing machine, a. frame, a wheel support mounted on said frame for movement about a vertical axis, a pair of pole rotating and feeding wheels journaled in said support, power means for rotating said wheels mounted on said 5 support, and means for swinging said support about its pivot comprising a bracket movably mounted on said frame, a shaft extending between said bracket and support and journaled in said bracket, a motor carried by said bracket and operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the latter, and a block pivotally mounted on said support and having a threaded opening through which one end of the shaft projects.

3. In a pole rossing machine, a frame, a wheel support mounted on said frame for movement about a vertical axis, a pair of aligned pole rotating and feeding wheels journalled in said support and fixed against misalignment, a wheel operating motor carried by and movable with said wheel support, and motor actuated means carried by said frame and associated with said support for swinging the support about its pivot to change the feeding position of said wheels.

4. In a pole rossing machine, a frame, a wheel 5 support mounted on said frame for movement about a vertical axis, a pair of pole rotating and feeding wheels journalled in said support, power means carried by said frame, a shaft extending between said power means and support and ro- 30 tated by said means, and means movably carried by said support and connected to said shaft whereby the rotation of said shaft will swing said support about its pivot to change the feeding position of the wheels.

35 5. In a pole rossing machine, a frame, a wheel support mounted on said frame for movement about a vertical axis, a pair of pole rotating and feeding wheels journalled in said support, a bracket movably mounted on said frame, a shaft 40 extending between said bracket and support and journalled in said bracket, a motor carried by said bracket and operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the latter, and means movably carried by said support and connected to said 45 shaft whereby the rotation of said shaft will.

swing said support about its pivot to change the feeding position of the wheels.

6. In a pole rossing machine, a frame, a wheel support mounted on said frame for movement 50 about a vertical axis, a pair of aligned pole rotating and feeding wheels journalled in said support and fixed against misalignment, resilient non-metallic tires secured to the peripheries of said wheels and forming traction means for rotating and feeding poles through the machine, andmotor actuated means carried by said frame and associated with said support for swinging the support about its pivot to change the feeding 5 position of said wheels.

'7. In a pole rossing machine, a, frame, a wheel support rotatably mounted on said frame, a pole rotating and feeding wheel journalled in said support, a second wheel cooperating with said 10 first-named wheel for rotating and feeding said pole, an electric motor mounted on said wheel support and operatively connected to said firstnamed wheel, and power actuated means carried by said frame and associated with said support 15 for swinging the support about its pivot to change the feeding position of said first-named wheel.

8. In a pole rossing machine, a frame, a wheel support mounted on said frame for movement about a vertical axis, a pair of pole rotating and 20 feeding wheels journalled in said support, means for rotating said wheels mounted on said support, and means for swinging said support about its pivot comprising a bracket spaced from said support, a shaft extending between said bracket and support and journalled in said bracket, means carried by said bracket for rotating said shaft, a stub shaft connected to the lower end of said bracket and journalled in said frame, and a block pivotally mounted on said support and operatively connected to said shaft adjacent one end thereof whereby rotation of said shaft will move the wheel support and bracket about their respective pivots.

9. In a pole rossing machine, a frame, a wheel support mounted on said frame for movement about a vertical axis, a pair of pole rotating and feeding wheels journalled in said support, means for rotating said wheels mounted on said support, andmeans for swinging said support about its pivot comprising a bracket spaced from said support, a shaft extending between said bracket and support and journalled in said bracket, a motor mounted on the upper portion of said bracket, a stub shaft connected to the lower end of said bracket and journalled in said frame, reduction gearing carried by said bracket and operatively connecting the motor to the first mentioned shaft, and a block pivotally mounted on said support and having a threaded opening through which one end of the shaft projects.

' JAMES D. TAYLOR.

WALLACE E. JONES. 

